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Mariss Jansons Awarded RPS Gold Medal

23 Nov 2017

Conductor Mariss Jansons awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal for his revelatory and truthful music-making over forty years.

One of classical music’s highest honours, the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, has been awarded to the Latvian conductor Mariss Jansons. He becomes the 104th recipient since the medal was founded in 1870.

The RPS Gold Medal, which bears the image of Beethoven, was presented to Mariss Jansons by fellow RPS Gold Medallist, pianist Mitsuko Uchida, on-stage following a concert with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, of which Maestro Jansons is Chief Conductor, on Friday 24 November at the Barbican Hall. The concert, fittingly, includes a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 4.

In awarding the medal, the Royal Philharmonic Society said:

“Mariss Jansons is one of the greatest musicians of our day. His conducting is a powerful combination of discipline and inspiration and his revelatory performances are innately truthful to the nuances of the score while filled with new discoveries and glimpses into the very heart of the music.”

Making the presentation Mitsuko Uchida spoke of the unique intensity of Jansons' performances: "an intensity which comes from total honesty to the score”. Responding, Mariss Jansons thanked the RPS and all his musicians - particularly the players of the BRSO - and said:

“ I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to realise my dream of being a conductor - a dream that should be open to every young musician, boy or girl.”